The programme of talks has been finalised for the NAMHO Conference, we are providing two lecture theatres and this will enable parallel talks, we are considering single day visits for delegates who can't make the whole weekend further details for booking are available via
http://www.namhoconference.org.uk/2011/front.htm any questions please come back to me
There will be the usual welcomes on the Friday evening a new Video presentation and the rest will be left for socialising
Throughout there will be two lecture theatres operating
Saturday:
Mining in Shropshire 50 years ago; Ivor Brown
In the 1950s there were still mines of coal, clay, leas and barytes in Shropshire as well as the relics of many hundreds of closed ones. These industries were in decline but some enthusiasts were trying to save the best of the relics and to record the rest. The speaker describes some of their efforts in this illustrated talk.
Dr Ivor Brown has worked in and about the mines of Shropshire since 1952 and published his first mining article in 1958 (a handout for visitors to Madeley Wood Colliery). He is still very much involved in historical research and preservation of mining remains in the county and elsewhere.
Mines of Spain; Rob Vernon
The Iberian Peninsula is rich in minerals, a factor that probably persuaded the Romans to colonise the region extensively. Evidence abounds of their activities that could often cause disappointment for later adventurers who sometimes found their endeavours extending to depths of over 200m. During the Moorish occupation, and later, mining activity was not so well organised, and Spain looked outward towards the New World after 1492. Mines worked in Spain from the 1600s onwards were often under State control, especially the mercury mines at Almaden.
By the early 19th century, and after several Carlist wars of succession, Queen Isabel II came to the throne in 1847. This brought some degree of stability to Spain; mining laws were introduced, and tariffs modified to encourage foreign investment, and of equal importance, to encourage the introduction of new mining technology that would give fresh impetus to the indigenous mining activity.
From the late 1840s, British mining companies, along with those from Germany and France, would exploit virtually every mineral Spain had to offer. Those British companies that operated in the Linares lead mining field (e.g. Linares Lead Company), and in the pyrites belt in Huelva (e.g. Rio Tinto) are particularly well known.
Desktop research has identified over 600 British mining companies that were formed to operate mines in Spain. The talk will provide detail about some of these companies and examine some of the lesser-known mining areas of Spain where few British companies ventured!
Iron Ore Mining in North Lincolnshire; Les Riley
A brief introduction to mining and quarring in the Scunthorpe area and subsequent development of the underground mines. Finally, a view of their closure and the present day situation.
Scottish stone and metal mines; Alan Jeffreys
A review of mine exploration in Scotland.
Caving activity only really commenced north of the border in the early 1960s. Since then, a lot of time and effort has been dedicated to exploring abandoned metal and stone mines, principally in Central Scotland. (Much heavy industry in Scotland centred on coal and shale mines which generally have not been examined, except for some work in West Lothian shale mines, where bad air curtailed exploration). The talk will provide a general overview of activity over the past 50 years.
North Wales Manganese Mines; Dave Linton
Dave Linton is researching and documenting the short-lived manganese mining industry in the former county of Merioneth. His talk will cover his choice of area, provide context about the manganese industry, briefly describe the mining landscape and some of the mines (none of them extensive) and finish with a discussion of the web site (
http://www.hendrecoed.org/Merioneth-Manganese) created to record the work.
An Obsession with Mines; George Hall
Personal reminiscences of George?s activities alone and with David Bick in the early days of mining exploration, illustrated with slides of these adventures.
The mines of Mid Wales 1960 ? 2011; Simon Hughes
An interwoven chronological account of commercial interests and mine exploration in Cardiganshire between 1961 and 2011.
Alderley Edge; Nigel Dibben
Nigel will talk about the work carried out by the DCC at Alderley Edge since 1970 to re-open the copper mines there. His talk will be illustrated with pictures of the many and various techniques used including shaft work, railways and some quite elaborate engineering.
The archaeology of Shropshire Mines; Colin Richards
The talk will present a basic historical overview of the metalliferous mines of the Snailbeach/Pennerley/Tankerville etc area and then the conservation project during the latter part of the 20thC with issues of technique and ethos considered together with lessons learnt.
Nenthead underground; MikeWorsfold
Early lead mining in Shropshire; James Lawson
Mining in Shropshire probably commenced in the Bronze Age. The local discovery of second century AD Roman pigs of lead indicate mines and these were probably at Snailbeach and Shelve. 3rd century evidence of litharge and cupellation has been found and medieval exploitation is recorded.
Digging for victory; attempts to gain new ground! Roy Fellows
My first successful dig was at the Frongoch mine near Pontrhydygroes in 1995. After just a few hours work I was able successful in gaining the workings in the vicinity of the engine shaft which included an impressive stope with miners clog prints. This acted as an incentive for other digging projects in Wales at Henfwlch and Pantywrach.
In the year 2000 I teamed up with Ian Hebson of CAT and MOLES and together we launched a project to access the workings on the Caplecleugh High Level (Hodsons) at Nenthead. This involved a total of 7 digs in various forms however we were able to access virtually all of the workings.
Four years later working with members of the Welsh Mines Society a shaft was sunk through collapse material in an air shaft on the Alltycrib hill at Tal-y-bont. This was successful in reaching the deep adit where the remains of a horse whim were discovered. A later attempt to reach workings over to the west was unsuccessful, regardless of driving about 140 feet of road through collapse material.
At this time there is an ongoing dig at Goginan in the 26 fathom level that has pushed about 40 feet.
Exploring Surrey?s underground 1911-201; Peter Burgess
A torrential storm in May 1911 started a century of mine exploration in Surrey. Using extracts from personal log books and diaries, as well as local press reports and caving club records, Peter describes how the popularity of underground exploration in Surrey grew over a century to its present state.
The SCMC and coal mining; Neal Rushton
Sunday:
Shafts, stopes and headings - realising the 'inaccessible': towards an agenda for subterranean mining archaeology; Peter Claughton
Until recently the official view on most forms of subterranean archaeology was that, as it was inaccessible to both archaeologists and the general public, it did not warrant serious consideration for investigation and conservation. Over the last fifty years the archaeology has had little or no value in preventing the closure of mine entrances. The concept of 'accessibility' is however changing. Mine explorers have never considered subterranean features 'inaccessible'. Difficult to access, maybe, but never inaccessible.
Now the official view is changing - a survey team of the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historic Monuments in Wales (RCAHMW) has been deployed underground to record fragile mining features and English Heritage has recognised the underground nature of mining archaeology in its research programme 'New Frontiers: Understanding Subterranean Places'. Mine exploration has an important role in accessing and interpreting that archaeology: developing the work
Cornwall 50 years of coming and going - A kaleidoscope of events, sites and people; Kevin Baker
Mining in the Tamar Valley to the 17th Century; Robert Waterhouse
Seen one, seen the lot? What we've learned about underground building-stone quarries in the UK and the rest of Europe in the last century; Paul Sowan
The lecture will focus on the nature and quarrying underground of sedimentary dimension-stones in general and those of the south-east England in particular, especially hard chalk, Kentish Rag and Reigate stone. Up-to-date research on Reigate stone, a unique British building stone, will be reported. Some parallel work in mainland Europe, especially at the very impressive underground quarries in Belgium and the Netherlands around Mastricht will also feature.
Firesetting, preliminary work in West Devon; Rick Stewart
Cleveland ironstone mining; Simon Chapman
A brief description of an industry which developed rapidly during the nineteenth century in the North Riding of Yorkshire creating towns, industries and villages in a formerly remote rural backwater. Stratified ironstone mining relied initially on experience from the collieries but quickly developed its own characteristics and, literally, ground-breaking technologies right up to extinction in 1964.
A life in mining history: Mike Gill
The UK's mining heritage; Ian Castledine
A personal view of our mining heritage and some of its lesser known corners
Oswestry?s Forgotten Coalfield: Gordon Hillier
Within a small area just south of Oswestry, over 50 archaeological sites still remain as evidence of a once small but thriving coal mining industry. The Oswestry & Border History & Archaeological Group has only recently formally recorded many of these sites for the first time.
50 years of exploring Dudley mines; John Smith
Having been born and bred in Dudley it is most likely that had it not been for the local limestone mines I would probably never have found an interest in venturing underground. I initially learnt of their existence while still at school in the early 1950?s from others who lived on the estates around the Limestone outcrops and were telling tales of huge underground galleries and bottomless pits? This obviously sparked my interest in this direction.
Starting work in 1953 and having to concentrate on studies it was to be 1956-7, before I had managed to interest a colleague in joining me to venture into this totally unknown environment for us at the time. The unique feature in these Dudley mines being that the limestone was removed by way of an underground canal system from both the Wren?s Nest Hill and Castle Hill Outcrops. This love affair with the Dudley Mines was to continue for me for some 50 years, but sadly they have virtually all been in-filled today. To give an idea of the scale, when in-filling began one section of the Wren?s Nest Mines, it was to take 70 lorries a day each carrying 20 tones of sand and working 7 days a week 2 years to infill.
The Clee Hill coalfield; Alf Jenkins
The Clee Hill Coal Industry from 1864 until the 1920s. Sinking a shaft and drainage. The working conditions of 'carver boys' and the bell pit circle.
Exploring underground; recent digs by the SCMC; Kelvin Lake
Excavations at Pitchcroft engine house; David Poyner
Three years ago, the Shropshire Caving and Mining Club began a project to investigate four holding down bolts sticking out of the ground at a demolished winding engine house at Pitchcroft limestone mine, near Newport. We have now uncovered walls of the house standing over 5 feet high, the base of a haystack boiler and a site whose story we can trace from 1795 to 1860.
A year underground with Subterranea Britannica; Martin Dixon/Linda Bartlett
Subterranea Britannica Chairman Martin Dixon has been exploring underground space for decades. Through looking at sites he and Linda visited in 2010, the presentation will illustrate the wide range of underground site types that fascinate Sub Brit members. From a mining perspective locations range from Neolithic flint mines to the immense limestone quarries of Maastricht. Further afield are Carlsbad Cavern in New Mexico and the Elephanta Hindu Caves in Mumbai (both World Heritage sites). Less accessible sites visited include the few remains of Hitler's 'Germania' in Berlin and the underground factory and air-raid shelters of Shorts Brothers. From the cave that started Sub Brit to the US nuclear missile silo that could have ended it, there will be something new for everyone!
The mole of Edge Hill; Steve Moran
An insight to Joseph Williamson,who over 30 years managed to build a labyrinth of subterranean passengers, caverns,banqueting hall , cellar systems . Constituting what is probable the largest know subterranean folly in the world
